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(No-Model.)

. G. A. HEARN; OASE OR WRAPPERFOR CARDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, BOOKS, &c.

No. 4073140. I I Patented July 23, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. HEARN, OF PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY HUR- RELL, OF SAME PLACE.

CASE OR WRAPPER FOR CARDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, BOOKS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,440, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed November 14, 1888. 'Seria1No.Z90,813. (No model.) Patented in England June 13, 1887, No. 8,493.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, GEORGE ALFRED HEARN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Plymouth, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cases or WVrappers for Cards, Photographs, Books, Samples, Patterns, or the Like During Transmission through the Post, (which has been patentedin Great Britain June 13,1887, No.8, l93,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in protectors for cards, photographs, books, samples, patterns, and the like during transmission through the post.

According to my invention I make the protector of a single piece of card-board or other suitable stiff material, and fold the two ends of the same so that they overlap one another, the inner side of the protector at and near the folds having series of parallel scores .or outs, whereby the folding parts are softened and the wrapper or case is rendered expansible,

so as to form a kind of tubular protector adapted to expand and carry one or more cards, photographs, books, samples, patterns, and the like, thereby dispensing, if thought necessary, with the adhesive flap hitherto employed. The overlapping ends of the protector are connected by cement or otherwise united, or are left open, and the open ends are secured (when the articles to be inclosed have been placed in the protector) by elastic cord inserted in holes and slots or holes or slots in the protector.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved protector opened out flat, so as to show the inside of the same. Fig. 2 is an elevation, and Fig. 3 is an end view, of the protector as it appears when inclosing a few thin articles, such as cards or photographs. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but showing the protector when used as a wrapper for a book of moderate thickness.

A a b, Fig. 1, indicate the single piece of card-board or other suitable stiff material from which I make the protector,

a and b are the two ends, which I fold at o and d, so that they overlap one another, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inner side of the protector being scored or cut at and near the parts where the folds are made, as indicated by the horizontal lines at cand d in Fig. 1, so as to soften the sides or edges and render the case expansible, and thereby adapted for a greater or less thickness of inclosed matter. The overlapping ends a and b are then connected or left open, as before explained, and a kind of tubular expansible Wrapper will thus have been formed, adapted to receive and carry one or two cards or photographs, as illustrated at Fig. 3, or a larger number of the same or a book, as shown at Fig. 4, or one or more samples, patterns, or the like.

e e are bands or pieces of elastic inserted in holes ff and serving to close the ends of the protector,\vhen the articles to be inclosed have been placed therein, by passing the pieces of elastic e e into slots g g g in the overlapped parts a and 6. These slots incline to each other, their outer ends diverging and extend ing through the edge of the envelope to readily receive the elastic band and precluding its escape.

By employing bands or pieces of elastic for securing the ends of the protector the said ends are allowed to expand to suit the thickness of the article or articles inclosed in the protector, as Will be understood by referring to Figs. 3 and 4.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is 1. A folding protector for cards or similar articles, provided with two holes, such as f, near its edge, and with two inclined slots, such as g, diverging from each other and open at the edge of the protector, in combination with elastic cords or bands e e, as and for the purposes described.

2. The described protector or wrapper, constructed as follows, namely: of a single piece of card-board or other suitably thick and stiff material, having the two described similar sets or groups of parallel grooves or scores, the scores being made close to each other, and also having the holes f, slots g, and elastic cord or band applied thereto, as set forth.

G. A. HEARN.

WVitnesses:

J AMES MITCHELL, E. H. PALMER. 

